Fibromyalgia can sometimes cause a pinprick sensation in your skin. Why is this?
“Fibromyalgia can cause a whole range of nerve sensations including pins and needles (mostly in the hands and feet – called paresthesias),” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers nationally.
His latest book is “The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution” (Avery Penguin 2013).
“In the absence of other nerve problems such as severe localized weakness or numbness, these may be reasonably ignored,” adds Dr. Teitelbaum.
“Other nerve pains are also common in fibromyalgia and can be readily treated with natural treatments.”
A sensation of pinpricks can be difficult to ignore, even though you now know that they don’t mean anything serious as long as there isn’t any numbness or focal weakness.
Dr. Teitelbaum suggests a natural remedy for pinprick feelings that consists of a mineral, vitamins, an antioxidant and an amino acid, as follows:
- Magnesium: 200 mg a day
- Vitamins B6 (25 mg daily) and B12 (500 mcg daily)
- Lipoic acid (300 mg twice daily)
- Acetyl l-carnitine (1500 mg every day)
Can medications be useful in reducing pinprick sensations from fibromyalgia?
Yes, says Dr. Teitelbaum.
Ultram, Neurontin and Cymbalta are several examples of medications that can reduce or numb nerve pain. NSAIDs like aspirin are usually not effective.
is a board certified internist and nationally known expert in the fields of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep and pain.
